8 Common Myths of Pregnancy--Debunked

When it comes to pregnancy, I believed a lot of common myths to be true before I was expecting my own little bundle of joy. But over the course of nine months (and from chatting with fellow baby bump-sporting friends), I managed to debunk eight myths — from what it means when you have morning sickness to whether sex is better while pregnant.

Myth #1: Morning sickness means it's a girl. In my case, this myth was definitely true. I've suffered through two queasy pregnancies that both resulted in pink onesies and frilly headbands. However, one mommy friend of mine had such bad morning sickness that she ended up in the hospital! About seven months later she delivered a healthy baby boy.

Myth #2: Morning sickness ends after the first trimester. Sadly, for me the nausea did not stop after three months. My morning sickness continued well into the fourth month of my pregnancy. For some moms-to-be, morning sickness lasts until the day they deliver!

Myth #3: Carrying just in the belly means it's a boy. With both of my pregnancies, I carried very compactly, all in the front. People assumed I was having boys and were often surprised when I revealed I was expecting baby girls. Still, many women believe how they carry is a good indication of the baby's sex.

Myth #4: Everyone gets stretch marks. I assumed that once my belly started expanding with my baby, I'd get some unflattering stretch marks as a badge of mommy honor. However, I didn't end up with any...not that I'm complaining!

Myth #5: Sex is better. Many women say that with the abundance of hormones coursing through their pregnant bodies, they are "in the mood" more. However, I know plenty of mamas who couldn't think of anything they wanted less than getting intimate with a big bump in the way.

Myth #6: Eating a spicy meal will make you go into labor. Plenty of women swear by this myth, but for me, a spicy meal near my due date just gave me heartburn. My labor-inducing meal of choice? A big slice of cheesecake! It seems filling my belly with creamy goodness was the key to getting my baby to get on with it.

Myth #7: Your first delivery is always the hardest. In my case this was true — but I have a friend who labored the hardest with her third baby. It depends on the individual situation, but for many moms, subsequent deliveries come with their own unique challenges.

Myth #8: You'll drop 10 pounds after the birth. Of the common myths surrounding pregnancy, this one is my favorite! I expected to walk out of the delivery room at least 10 pounds lighter. But with the swelling after labor, I didn't drop so much as an ounce — despite the fact that I was no longer toting a 6-pound baby in my belly.

What pregnancy myth did you debunk while expecting?

Written by Melissa Willets

Melissa Willets is a mom of three girls, one of whom is a newborn. She writes about pregnancy, parenting, home, health, and beauty. She loves running and drinking red wine - but never simultaneously.